Papal State
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State of the Church Status Ecclesiasticus Status Pontificius | |
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Anthem: Pontifical Anthem | |
| Official languages | Ecclesiastical Latin |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Government | Unitary Christian absolute monarchy |
| Holy See | |
• Pope | Gregory XVII |
| Legislature | Pontifical Commission |
| River Concordat | |
• Formal borders established | 11 February 1815 |
| Population | |
• 2025 estimate | 56,706 |
| Currency | Taler (₮) (LUT) |
| Internet TLD | .va |
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The Papal State (Latin: Status Pontificus), officially the State of the Church (Latin: Status Ecclesiasticus) is an independent city-state enclaved within Urceopolis, Urcea. It is distinct from yet under "full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction" of the Holy See. It is among the world's smallest states in terms of both population and area. It is largely dependent on the Levantine Union for defense and for public services, and uses the Taler as its official currency.
The Papal State is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state (a type of theocracy) ruled by the Pope who is, religiously speaking, the Bishop of Urceopolis and head of the Catholic Church. The highest state functionaries are all Catholic clergy of various national origins.
The Holy See dates back to early Christianity, and is the primate episcopal see of the Catholic Church. The Papal State, on the other hand, came into existence organically during the decline and collapse of Great Levantia and reached its zenith during the high medieval period and included, de facto, the entire Duchy of Transurciana up through the Great Interregnum of Urcea before entering into something approximating its modern borders in the 14th and 15th centuries. Its formal borders were established by the River Concordat of 1815 during the Recess of the Julii.